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About the event

The National Peace Symposium, held at the largest mosque in Western Europe, is a key event of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and 2016 marks the 13th Symposium to date. The theme for this year is “ Justice: The Foundation for Lasting Peace ”. The symposium promotes a deeper understanding of Islam and other faiths and seeks to inspire a concerted effort for lasting peace. More than 800 guests attend the unique event, including Secretaries of State, parliamentarians, diplomats, faith and civic leaders as well as representatives from numerous charities and faith communities.

About Us

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK

For more than one hundred years the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has been leading a peaceful revival of Islam. From the time it was founded in India in 1889 it has enjoyed an unrivalled record for peace and for its efforts to build cohesive societies.

Established in the UK since 1913, we built London’s first mosque in 1926 (The London Mosque in Putney). We now have 129 branches across Britain and have opened a number of mosques including the landmark Baitul Futuh mosque in south London, which is the largest in western Europe.

The Community has now built over 15,000 mosques, over 500 schools and over 30 hospitals and has translated the Holy Qur’an in over 70 languages. It propagates the true teachings of Islam and the message of peace and tolerance through a 24-hour satellite television channel (MTA), the Internet (alislam.org) and print (Islam International Publications).

It has been at the forefront of disaster relief worldwide through an independent charitable organisation, Humanity First and also works on an international programme to provide clean water, medical assistance, sustainable energy and aid to those suffering across the world.

In the UK, every year it raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for numerous British charities such as the Royal British Legion, Save the Children, Macmillan Cancer, the Great Ormond Street Hospital to name a few. In the past year alone it has planted more than 30,000 trees, provided food for more than 10,000 homeless people and donated more than 1,000 units of blood. Islam teaches members to be positive contributors to society as a whole and during the recent floods, hundreds of youth also volunteered hundreds of hours to assist in the affected areas. The community has launched a national anti-extremism campaign

One Community, One Leader

The community is led by a system of Khilafat or spiritual leadership. His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the community’s fifth Khalifa and is based in London. His Holiness leads his global community and inspires it to serve humanity with the spirit of kindness and humility that is integral to Islam.

In accordance with the teachings of Islam he upholds the honour of all prophets of God and highlights the role of religion in the promotion of peace. His Holiness has led a worldwide campaign to convey the peaceful message of Islam, through all forms of print and digital media.

Under his leadership, national branches of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have launched campaigns that reflect the true and peaceful teachings of Islam. Ahmadi Muslims the world over are engaged in grassroots efforts to distribute millions of ‘Peace’ leaflets to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, host interfaith and peace symposiums, and present exhibitions of The Holy Qur’an, to present its true and noble message. These campaigns have received worldwide media coverage and demonstrate that Islam champions peace, loyalty to one’s country of residence and service to humanity.

The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in 1889 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days and the awaited one of the world’s religions (the Messiah and Mahdi of the latter days). His mission was to revive the peaceful teachings of Islam and engender in people’s hearts the love of God and the duty to serve mankind.

The community is now established in more than 200 countries and it spearheads an international effort to promote education and health across the developing world as well as a global peace campaign to engender respect and human rights for all.

Previous Speakers

Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for International Development

“I would echo the words of other speakers already this evening in really paying tribute to the work of the Ahmadiyya Community, not just here in the UK and in my own local community but worldwide. His Holiness, is a tireless advocate for peace in such a conflict ridden world.”

(Peace Symposium 2015)

Professor Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has always made a positive contribution towards promoting religious freedom. Thus in 1948, Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, an Ahmadi Muslim and the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, took to the podium at the United Nations General-Assembly to fully endorse the principle of religious freedom and the right to change one’s belief.”

(Peace Symposium 2015)

Lord Eric Avebury

“It is a privilege to attend the Peace Symposium where we have all joined together under the wise leadership of His Holiness … to speak against the forces of hatred and aggression.”

(Peace Symposium 2015)

Boris Johnson – The Mayor of London

” I believe the work you are doing incarnates so much that is good and remarkable about the genius of this city… in bringing together communities, through understanding “

( Peace Symposium 2012)

Most Rev Kevin McDonald Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark, Catholic Church

“Each one of us and each one of our communities represented here tonight has something entrusted in us to do for the course of peace and justice in the world.”

“We all need to remember our roots and give back. I would like to thank the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, the board for selecting me for this award and I wish everyone here and the nations of the world peace and prosperity”